The Essential Moving House Checklist

Transcription

1 The Essential Moving House Checklist According to research, moving house is only topped by death and divorce when it comes to the most stressful event in your life. It might feel like you ve got a million things to do but with a bit of organisation and forward planning, you can group all those tasks into manageable chunks and tackle one thing at a time. Get out the calendar, count back eight from the move date and plan what you need to do by. Sometimes just writing it all down helps and you ll be able to see exactly what needs to be done and when, ensuring you re well organised. To give you a hand, we ve created a checklist to help your move as stress-free as possible. Plus, getting a fat marker pen and ticking off each task is incredibly therapeutic! Sign up for special offers, news and alerts Join the Alinta Energy community Join our mailing list and be updated with the latest from Alinta Energy Sign up today!

2 8 8 What are you waiting for? Quotes for removalists Start to research removal firms and gather quotes. Word of mouth is a great starting point but make sure the removalists you pick are members of the Australian Furniture Removers Association and check their insurance for true peace of mind. Valuations If you have anything that s particularly valuable, it s worth getting it expertly valued to ensure your insurance covers it. Home, car and contents insurance You won t need to change your details and/or policies yet but it s a good idea to begin to find out what you ll need to do when it comes to it, as well as obtaining quotes for insurance for the new home. De-clutter Moving home is a great time through each room (especially the garage, basement and loft where it is all too easy to store unwanted and unused belongings) and sort out what you really don t use, want or need any more. Not only will this mean you have to move less to your new home, it is also an incredibly cathartic experience! Schools If you re moving out of the area and have school-age children, it s best to start looking for and organising new schools for them as soon as possible.

3 6 6 Give notice If you re living in rented accommodation, now is the time to give notice to your landlord. Order furniture If you need to buy any extra furniture for your new home and want it in place when you move, order it now, in time for it to be delivered to your new address. Unless they are essential pieces of furniture, such as beds, organise for them to arrive a couple of days after you move in - you ll have enough to do on move day and the day after! Book days off work You may be able to move over the end but, to avoid a lot of stress, it s a good idea to book a couple of extra days off work either side of the move date.

4 4 4 Move date confirmation You ll have to start to contact utilities companies soon to arrange for final readings and to move your account to the new address so get your move date confirmed to avoid having to contact them all over again. Begin change of address notifications Once you ve got your move date confirmed you can start telling personal contacts, companies and local services your new address. You may want to consider getting change of address cards printed to hand out to friends and family and you should give your doctor and dentist your new address details. If you re moving out of the area, start to scout out what s in your new neighbourhood and find out how to register with new medical services. Run-down the fridge and freezer Begin to run-down the contents of your fridge and freezer so that they can be emptied, cleaned and defrosted before moving.

5 2 2 Begin to pack If you ve decided to do the packing yourselves, now s the time to start getting organised. You can start to pack items you won t need until after the move, such as out-of-season clothes, books, etc. Make sure you mark every box with its contents and the room you want it to end up in. Organise insurance All that research you did ago will now come in handy - all you have to do is finalise your home and contents insurance to ensure your new home and everything in it is covered from the very first day.

6 1 1 Notification checklist Contact all utilities companies, including gas, electricity, water, phone, internet, and cable or satellite. We need three business days notice to organise a meter reading and prepare your final account. Check whether your new home is connected to gas - if it is, you can open an account for the new property at the same time. The easiest way to do it is via MyAccount. If you re not sure whether gas has ever been connected at your new home, give us a call on and we ll help you to arrange a new gas connection. If you re moving locally, also contact your children s schools so they can update their details, and let HR at work know too. If you re self-employed the tax office will also have to be contacted. Don t forget to inform financial companies (bank, credit card, loans, pensions, etc.) and any deliveries (such as newspapers), and arrange for your post to be re-directed through Australia Post. It s always the non-essential organisations that get forgotten so make a list of any that you have connections to, for example loyalty schemes, charities, gyms, and subscriptions.

7 The day before Instruction booklets Gather instruction booklets for all appliances you re leaving behind for the new owners. Pack a bag Fill an overnight bag for each family member with essentials for move day, including toiletries, pyjamas, and a change of clothes. Make sure you ve also got a fully charged mobile phone and any essential documents. Kitchen essentials Ensure a box containing tea, coffee, milk, mugs, biscuits and the kettle is kept to one side for essential moving day sustenance! Cleaning equipment Also keep aside a box filled with cleaning equipment for last-minute cleaning of the old house and freshening up of the new one. Helpful moving house tips: Sign up today! Electricity in your new home Easy steps to connecting electricity in your new home. Moved house and still receiving the previous owner s energy bill? What to do, who to call, how to get it sorted quickly. Join the Alinta Energy community